Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

PVC and PANIC ATTACK after being sober from COCAINE ABUSE.

Resolved Question:

I was a recreational cocaine abuser (at peak 1g/week) for about 2 years. After being sober ~1 month (and having taken steps to never abuse again), I have had a panic attack and PVCs - 24 hour holter showed 2900 in 24 hours. I can exercise as normal, and have no shortness of breath. Both primary and cardiologist say heart sounds fine, and i have stress and echo scheduled friday.
In your opinion, would these PVCs be caused by cocaine use, and permanent? They're giving me considerable anxiety.

Category: Cardiologist

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Cardiologist
 20 Doctors Online

Hello. Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com.
You have been off cocaine for a month. That is a good thing. Now you have recurrent PVCs.
Long term cocaine abuse can cause cardiomyopathy (heart muscle abnormality), Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and hypertrophy (thickening) of left ventricle. Cocaine causes systolic (heart contraction) and diastolic (heart relaxation) dysfunction, arrhythmias, and atherosclerosis. Cocaine decreases myocardial (heart muscle) contractility and ejection fraction (pumping ability of heart).

Usually in 90 to 95 percent people this cardiomyopathy reverts on its own. However, in a small percentage the heart remains weak. Also, if there was a silent heart attack during the cocaine use then it may lead to weak heart. Weak heart can lead to multople arrhythmias like PVCs. However, this can only be confirmed aftwr a 2D ECHO. If your 2D ECHO is normal then there is nothing to worry about the PVCs. Then, it may be managed with beta blockers but if you promise to abstain because beta blockers along with cocaine use can be dangerous. So the major treatment decisions and prognosis will depend on whether the heart function is normal or not on the 2D ECHO examination. And also, treatment will depend on whether you are going to abstain with surety.

Feel free to ask further queries.
Regards, Dr Vivek Mahajan,
MD Medicine, DM Cardiology.


Dr. Vivek Mahajan
Category: Cardiologist
Experience: 
Fellowship: DM, Cardiology, PGIMER, 2013
Residency: MD, Internal Medicine, AIIMS, 2007
Internship: King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, 2003 
Medical School: MBBS, Seth G.S. Medical College, 2002
Dr. Vivek Mahajan and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news